50 First Date

Genre theory is used in the study of films in order to facilitate the categorization of films. Genre also allows viewers to have an idea of what they will be watching before even watching it. Genres are dependent on various factors such as story line, whom the director is, and the audience expectation. Today there is a greater diversity in film; there are more alternatives that allow for more genres to be presented. For example, the romantic comedy genre can also overlap with subgenres such as screwball comedy, teen comedy, or gross-out comedy (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014, table 4.1). This paper will focus on the romantic comedy genre, specifically the gross-out comedy, 50 First Dates, to help viewers gain a better perspective on the elements of this film, as well as the how this film expands the boundaries of romantic comedies.
The romantic comedy plot involves a romance
that leads to comic situations, although lately the term has come to mean almost exclusively a film in which a hapless female protagonist finds love despite all manner of kooky odds against it (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014, table 4.1). This is true for the movie 50 First Dates, which film stars Adam Sandler as the lothario veterinarian, Henry, and Drew Barrymore as Lucy, an amnesiac. Henry has a reputation of womanizing female tourist and shows no interest in committing to a serious relationship. It’s a sweet life with no strings attached, until he meets Lucy. They hit it off and Henry thinks he has finally found the girl of his dreams, until he discovers she has short-term memory loss making her forget every night all memory of her day. However, Henry goes out of his way to win over the girl of his dreams. This movie represents a classic example of a romantic comedy; Henry’s transformation from playboy to devoted caregiver is heartening. Making their relationship surprisingly sweet. As any other typical romantic comedy, the couple like each other, yet they are kept apart by some complicated circumstance, which in this movie is demonstrated by Lucy’s amnesia, until surmounting all obstacles, they are finally wedded. Rare indeed in the romantic comedy in which we don’t get that ending, that resolution that we so want – namely that the man and woman live happily ever after. Whether this is realistic is beside the point (Alleyne, 2008). The 50 First Dates joins the representation of romantic and gross-out comedy in its setting, theme and lighting.
Throughout the movie a high key lighting sets the scene in this film. Having very few shadows and relatively low contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of the scene draws the audience to imagine that there are there on the Hawaiian island. In all aspects of the movie the cinematographer works hard to the design the proper lighting for a more realistic look to the movie. In the scene where Lucy is driving her bright yellow car down the dirt road, the brightness on the green luscious mountain stands out in the gloomy day. Another convention is the theme, which helps represent the genre of the film. The theme is “what the movie is about,” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014, Ch. 3.3, para. 2). The theme of 50 First Dates is how two opposite people meet under unusual circumstance, come together, overcome obstacles, and fall in love despite the challenging position Lucy is in. This is the most popular and recurring theme seen in romantic comedies, which helps set expectations of the
genre. True love is an important convention in romantic comedy films. Throughout the
Film there will be an underlying theme of true love conquering all barriers that are encountered. Also at the center of the plot, there is a theme of morals/life lessons being dealt with (Kelley, 2016). The 50 First Dates describe the perfect example of true love, to have the energy to every day win over the heart of the one you love, is what we all should do, though ever so often don’t have the energy to. Henry’s character undergoes somewhat of a transformation in front of our eyes, sacrificing his life dreams to be with Lucy. In conclusion, genre considerations are one of the most important factors in determining what the person will expect to see. The classification of genre can attract or repel potential viewers. Genre also helps producers aim at a particular audience, allowing us to difference from the story lines we might enjoy and the ones we might dislike. 50 First Dates, shows the classic romantic comedy through the use of lighting and theme. With its funny humor and sweet romance, 50 First Dates, can make an audience of any age laugh and take in a valuable lesson.